Watch The CT Style Clip

Always fun working out with Desiree – click here or on the photo below to watch the clip right now.

The Snow Angel Workout

This has become a midnight tradition to ring in the New Year – THE SNOW ANGEL WORKOUT. We did it last New Year’s Eve when it was a blizzard (we were completely snowed in up here in Litchfield County, CT) and a mere 5degrees (I was sitting by the fire the whole night), so this year was “warm” by comparison. Click here or on the photo below for a quick video clip. Happy New Decade! 2010 is sure to be great!

Monday Musing

Roxy (my dog) was kicked by a horse! We were out for a hike, she was off leash and yapped at this beautiful big horse while standing underneath it’s tail and she was walloped, flew in the air like a rag doll and landed, looked lifeless. Then, she “came to” and, today, is fine – didn’t lose any teeth but I’m sure she had a horrible headache for a day or two. My point of saying this is this: this dog knows how to really live. Of course she pays the price (a.k.a, a bruised jaw) but she’s the stuff of legends. She had been sprayed by a skunk. She’s been stuck in muck and I needed to wade into knee deep mud and rescue her. (This summer, Roxy excited a wasp’s nest and you can imagine what happened there!) None of this stops her from going out into the world again, for this she is a great teacher. We all get figuratively kicked by a horse every now and again, but let’s not let it stop us from going out into the world again.

On another note, I received an adorable email with the subject header: OHMYGOSH “I just received Fusion Flow today and I loved it. It is, absolutely, workout perfection! Just when I thought Barefoot Cardio was pure joy and bliss…I have found this workout! I love all the dvd’s in the Studio series but I really, really love this one! Thank you sooo much for creating this dvd. It really is perfect for all levels! Happy Holidays!”

We appreciate when you take time to write us (you can always contact us at studio@ellenbarrett.com).

SKINNY SCULPT, the next DVD, will be available in late January 2010. We will keep you updated here on the FIT+FAB blog.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving Weekend

Here’s my new favorite photo, taken on my phone, of Steve and Luca on the swing at the park. I hope you all get a chance to do things outside this weekend and get some fresh air.

A Totally Random Picture…

So typical – my girl, Roxy (the dog) and my little boy (Luca) sitting on my lap and, clearly, NOT enthused. They are siblings even though they are different species!

Funny and TRUE

A MUST READ article about how dieting (and talking about it) is boring.

More Random Pics From The DVD Shoot

Michelle (on left) and I went to college together. I was a tennis player, she was a cheerleader. She teaches fitness now and is also a make-up artist. She is stunningly beautiful – see the up-close snapshot below!

Natalie (on the right) is a veteran fitness instructor and continues to lead packed classes at THE STUDIO. I met her at the 2005 ECA conference in NYC. At the onset of my workshop I said, “Hi Everybody, I’m Ellen and I just moved to Connecticut. Does anyone here live in Connecticut?” I was feeling lonely, missing my California friends and needed some fitness instructing friends on the east coast, plus I just opened the studio and was killing myself teaching too many classes/week. After the workshop, this smily woman walked up to me and said, “I live in Connecticut and I’d love to teach at your studio.” Oh Natalie, I still get chills… like an angel walked up to me -I just knew it was a stroke of luck! To this day I say, “Natalie was sent to me by God.”
People ask how the exercisers in DVDs become exercisers in DVDs. For me, I don’t want actors or models because sometimes they don’t have the stamina and work ethic to make it through the day. The shoot days are long and physical and there is a lot of start and stopping. That’s why I want actual instructors who I know personally  - they understand that the shoot day isn’t “a workout” it’s a job. Instructors (I think) are made of steel! Super tough. Not wimpy at all.

This is my niece, Jennifer. She’s 13 years old going on 21! I put her to work making sure we smiled on camera. Jen (as you can see) was very good at the job! When cameras weren’t rolling, Jen was busy texting. She brought a lot of youthful energy to the set.

Here I am, grateful to sit down on set. If you look closely, I’ve got coffee, my Ipod and my choreography notes – three “VIPs” that I became dependent on during the whole DVD process. The only missing element was water. I usually have a 1.5liter bottle with me at all times too. And about the note….No one can understand the notes except me. I create my own secret code unintentionally – lots of arrows and bullet points and doodling in the margins. Happens every time, even though I start out with neatly typed clean copy!

I’ve just seen some video footage and it’s lookin’ good! stay tuned.

another photo from the set

Purple! Good energy color. This pic was taken during the intro to FUSION FLOW, which will be out in the new year.

This is what I do on Friday nights

Click on the photo below for a 30second glimpse into my new life as mom. (Things sure have changed!)